Master's in Criminal Justice Data Analytics

Attend a Virtual Information Session at Marquette University

Attend Our Information Session: February 24, 2025

Join us for an Information Session for our Criminal Justice Data Analytics Program. You will have an opportunity to meet with the Director of the Program and the Graduate Admissions Counselor as we discuss program highlights, curriculum and the application process. There will be plenty of time for Q & A, so have your questions ready.

The Information Session will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM CST. Please RSVP at the link below.  We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP for this session

The Master of Science in CJDA is an interdisciplinary program designed to bridge Marquette’s Data Science and Criminology and Law Studies programs. Computer science (COSC) courses compose the program's data analytics core and provide instruction and training in computer science, data science, and working with large data sets. Criminology and law studies (CRLS) courses provide the context for applying the analytical skills developed in the data analytics core to criminal justice related topics. The culminating experience of the CJDA program takes place within a Practicum. The practicum's culminating experience provides the student an opportunity to work independently with a local non-profit or government agency through a community-engaged learning experience.

Prepare for a career as a data analyst in the criminal legal system and beyond

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Data Analytics (CJDA) is designed to develop graduates with the skills and knowledge to effectively harness data and employ analytical tools to inform responsible and ethical stewardship of planning, decision making, and problem solving in criminal justice agencies and related organizations. This program prepares students to become data analysts who carefully consider the full range of ethical and social implications of their analytical decisions. This program offers a unique perspective with its focus on ethical considerations of managing and analyzing large data sets to make evidence-driven decisions in the field of criminal justice and beyond. This program is timely because debates about how, when, and whether to use predictive models and algorithms for criminal justice decisions have not been resolved. Possessing an understanding of the ethical and social implications of these debates will better prepare CJDA graduates to engage in these debates and questions while working in the field of data analytics.

 

Flexible. Full-Time or Part-Time. Online. Accelerated. 

The Master's in Criminal Justice Data Analytics is offered with flexible options, so that you can complete the courses in a way that best fits your life. Full-time and part-time options are available, and some courses are offered online. Undergraduate students have an opportunity to enter into our Accelerated Degree Program during their junior year and earn their Bachelor and Master degrees in a total of five years.  

 

31

Credit Hours

2

Years to Complete*

PO

Part-time, Online Options**

 

 

 

 

 

*Full-time completed in 2 years. Part-time completed in 3 years. **Hybrid program with online and on-campus courses.

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Key Features of the Program

Ethical Focus:

Our curriculum places a unique focus on ethical considerations related to collecting, managing, and analyzing large datasets used in the criminal legal system. Understanding the ethical and policy implications is essential for responsible data analytics in the criminal legal system and beyond. 

Skill Development:

Our graduates gain practical skills in data management and learn to apply appropriate analytical methods. These skills are essential for making evidence-driven decisions that contribute to best practices and outcomes in the criminal legal system and beyond. 

Career Readiness:

Our program prepares students for successful careers as data analysts in various sectors including law enforcement, government agencies, and criminal justice organizations. By combining their understanding of the ethical considerations related to large datasets used in the criminal legal system with the technical expertise to inform evidence-driven decisions, you’ll be well-prepared to address real-world challenges.   

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify crime analysis opportunities that can be responsibly and ethically addressed through an understanding of crime, criminal offending, the operations of criminal justice organizations, and the US criminal justice system. 
  • Design and implement strategies for analyzing crime data using appropriate methods, tools, and analytical approaches. 
  • Analyze crime data to create actionable information, and use it to establish priorities, make decisions, and solve problems that are deemed important by community partners.
  • Display and explain the results of CJDA class projects using effective written, visual, and oral communication. 
  • Use advanced data processing tools incorporating regulatory, data governance, master data management, data profiling, parallel and distributed processing best practices.

Career Opportunities

The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Data Analytics aims to prepare students to become skilled data analysts who can navigate the complex ethical and social implications of evidence-driven decisions within the criminal legal system. Our graduates play a crucial role in ethical planning, decision making, and problem solving across various contexts, including police departments, correctional systems, courts and district attorneys' offices, and non-profit agencies. 

Our M.S. in criminal justice data analytics program is a STEM-designated program, which means international students are eligible to apply for 36 months of Optional Practical Training, allowing employers to potentially hire international students for up to three years instead of only one. 

Check out Marquette’s Career Center to learn about additional resources regarding CJDA career opportunities.

Learn about exciting news and achievements happening in the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, the administrative home of Master in Criminal Justice Data Analytics.

Learn about exciting news and achievements happening in Data Science at Marquette.

 

Learn about exciting news and achievements happening in Data Science at Marquette


Take the next step towards your future

I'm ready to apply

  • Request Information
  • Admission Requirements
  • Application Details
  • Application Deadline
  • Criminal Justice Data Analytics Faculty 

Ready to learn more about Marquette's Master's in Criminal Justice Data Analytics? 

Speak with a Recruiter

Tim Carter

(414) 288-7139

tim.carter@marquette.edu


Email the Graduate School

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To be eligible for admission to the Graduate School at Marquette University, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Completion of the following coursework is required: 

  1. Computer programming course (e.g. COSC 1010 Introduction to Software Development at Marquette)
  2. Statistics course (e.g. MATH 1700 Modern Elementary Statistics at Marquette)

Contact the Graduate Admissions Counselor for this program for further clarification on any of these required courses or to discuss other options. 

The criminal justice data analytics program can accomodate students from a wide variety of disciplines, including criminal justice, social science-related majors, data science, or other relevant educational experience.  Prospective students are strongly encouraged to have taken an introduction to computer programming class (e.g. COSC 1010 Introduction to Software Development at Marquette) before the start of the program and a grade of B or above in an undergraduate statistics course.  

Application Requirements

1Upon admission, final official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities, with certified English translations if original language is not English, must be submitted to the Graduate School within the first five weeks of the term of admission or a hold preventing registration for future terms will be placed on the student’s record. 

2Upon admission, an official course-by-course transcript/academic record evaluation must be submitted to the Graduate School within the first five weeks of the term of admission or a hold preventing registration for future terms will be placed on the student’s record. 

This program has rolling admission, which means you may apply and submit all application materials any time before the following dates:

  • Fall term admissions – August 1 (June 1 for international applicants)
  • Spring term admissions –  December 15 (October 1 for international applicants)

Applicants who wish to be considered for a limited amount of merit-based financial aid (scholarships) should be aware of the merit-based financial aid deadlines by which all applicant materials must be received by the Graduate School:

  • Fall term: February 15
  • Spring term: November 15

Students immersed in this program will have access and consistent interaction with faculty from both criminal law and data science departments. Select the disciplines below to learn more about the interdisciplinary faculty behind this exciting graduate program.